Online Reporter
Zimpapers Politics Hub
The late Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who passed away peacefully on Easter Monday at his Vatican residence, has been remembered as a transformative and pioneering leader in the history of the papacy.
Widely known as the “Pope for the poor”, Pope Francis was revered around the world for his deep compassion for the marginalised and vulnerable.
Zimpapers Politics Hub takes a look at the remarkable life of a man who broke barriers and set new standards in the Church.
According to Vatican News, Pope Francis holds an impressive list of historic firsts:
• He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from Latin America, and the first to choose the name Francis.
• He was elected while his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, was still alive — another first.
• Francis chose to live outside the traditional Apostolic Palace, setting a tone of humility and simplicity.
• He travelled to regions no pope had ever visited before, including Iraq and Corsica.
• He made history by signing a Declaration on Human Fraternity with one of the highest Muslim authorities — a groundbreaking move in interfaith dialogue.
Pope Francis also reshaped the inner workings of the Church:
• He established the Council of Cardinals to assist in governing the Church.
• He appointed women and laypeople to significant roles in the Curia.
• He launched a global Synod process, encouraging input from the entire Church community.
• He abolished pontifical secrecy in cases of sexual abuse.
• And notably, he formally removed the death penalty from the Church’s Catechism.
Throughout his papacy, he led the Church through a turbulent global landscape marked by conflict and unrest.
Repeatedly advocating for peace, Pope Francis condemned war as “always a defeat”, making over 300 appeals against violence, including in war-torn regions like Ukraine and the Middle East.
His voice, even when weary, remained a beacon of hope and justice, one that continues to echo in the hearts of millions around the world.
